From the Utica Observer Dispatch
Officials: Smaller wind farms not under state regulations
Photos
Syracuse Post-Standard via The Associated Press
This wind turbine near Buyea Road in the Madison County town of Fenner collapsed around 4 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 27. Later in the day, officials from the wind farm's owner, Enel North America, said they did not know what had caused the incident.
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Featured Business » By JENNIFER BOGDAN
Observer-Dispatch
Posted Dec 28, 2009 @ 10:47 PM
Last update Dec 29, 2009 @ 05:10 PM
FENNER — As officials continue to investigate what could have caused a 200-foot-tall wind turbine to collapse in Madison County, it was not at all clear Monday what agency, if any, is responsible for overseeing turbine safety issues at Fenner Wind Farm in this town northeast of Cazenovia.
State officials said the farm does not produce 80 megawatts of energy annually, and therefore, is not large enough to fall under their jurisdiction. Madison County officials also don’t believe they’re responsible for regulation and pointed to town officials for oversight.
However, officials in this rural town of about 1,600 residents said while they played a role in awarding permits for the project before it was completed in 2001, they thought that Enel North America, the company that operates the farm, was responsible for regulating the structures manufactured by General Electric.
“I think they’re pretty conscientious,” Fenner Supervisor Russell Cary said of Enel North America. “They don’t want this to happen again.”
The turbine, which weighed close to 190 tons, toppled over in a cornfield at about 4 a.m. Sunday, shutting down the wind farm’s 19 other turbines. No one was injured.
The collapse on Buyea Road in Fenner followed a power outage recorded at about 3:30 a.m., Enel North America spokesman Hank Sennott said. The cause remains under investigation by the company.
While it was the first time the company saw one of its turbines fall over, collapses of the structures are not unprecedented.
In March, another General Electric turbine split in half at the Noble Altona Windpark, northwest of Plattsburgh in Northern New York. That incident also followed a power outage.
Noble Environmental Power, the company operating the turbine, declared a wiring anomaly was to blame for the incident. General Electric wind turbines are equipped with a system that should shut them down when a loss of power occurs. Without the system working property, the turbine will spin faster than its design allows, the company said in a news release.
However, the collapse at Noble Altona Windpark remains under investigation by the state Public Service Commission because the operation produces enough energy to fall under that agency’s jurisdiction, said Anne Dalton, a spokesperson for the state commission.
“As I understand it, this one owned by Enel North America would be investigated locally,” Dalton said. “All I know is it’s not subject to our jurisdiction.”
The collapse that occurred in Altona on March 6 created a small fire and flung Fiberglass debris as far as 345 feet from the base of the turbine, the company said. No one was injured in the incident.
But Milissa Rocker, a spokesperson for General Electric, said the company’s windmills are safe. Just five of General Electric’s 13,000 turbines operating globally have collapsed since 2002 when General Electric took over the wind power operation from Enron, she said.
“It’s important to understand this is a very rare occurrence,” Rocker said. “This turbine is one of the most reliable in service.”
Despite the apparent resemblance between the incidents in Altona and Fenner, officials from both General Electric and Enel North America said there is no way to draw a parallel until an investigation is complete.
“What’s similar is that a turbine collapsed,” Rocker said. “That’s about as far as the similarities go right now.”
Wind turbines are an increasingly common part of the regional landscape, particularly along U.S. Route 20 and near Lowville.
There are no wind farms in Oneida or Herkimer counties, but three projects are pending in Herkimer County, according to data from New York Independent System Operator, a nonprofit organization that operates New York’s electrical grid. One plan for the Herkimer County town of Litchfield has raised the ire of residents near Sauquoit in Oneida County; they say turbines would mar the landscape and pose possible risks to home values and health.
Members of Save Sauquoit Valley Views -- a group opposing the Litchfield windmills - said theFenner tower collapse sparks concern over the Litchfield project.
“Despite the industry’s assurances, large turbines are intrinsically unsafe,” Liz Waszkiewicz said in a statement e-mailed on behalf of the organization. “Since the Fenner incident wasn’t related to high winds or other conditions that should have led to collapse, should a landowner take that chance?”
Sennot said the company does not believe strong winds or foul play were involved in the incident, but declined to discuss other possible causes until an investigation is complete, which likely won’t be until the end of January.
“Generally speaking, turbines are a far enough distance away that -- should something like this happen -- homes wouldn’t be hit,” Sennott said. The company is not concerned about additional turbines collapsing, he said.
The other 19 turbines at Fenner Wind Farm, which produces enough electricity to serve at least 10,000 homes, have been temporarily shut down as a safety precaution, he said.
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Where/ What is Digby??
Digby, Nova Scotia
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Nickname(s): "The Scallop Capital of The World"
DigbyLocation of Digby, Nova Scotia
Coordinates: 44°37′20″N 65°45′38″W / 44.62222°N 65.76056°W / 44.62222; -65.76056
Country Canada
Province Nova Scotia
County Digby County
Founded 1783
Incorporated February 28, 1890
Electoral Districts
Federal
West Nova
Provincial Digby-Annapolis
Government
- Type Town Council
- Mayor Ben Cleveland
- Governing Body Digby Town Council
Area
- Total 3.15 km2 (1.2 sq mi)
Elevation 0 - 152 m (-499 ft)
Population (2006)[1]
- Total 2,092
- Density 667.0/km2 (1,727.5/sq mi)
- Change (2001-06) ▼0.9%
- Dwellings 1,070
Time zone AST (UTC-4)
- Summer (DST) ADT (UTC-3)
Canadian Postal code B0V 1A0
Area code(s) 902
Telephone Exchange 245
Median Earnings* 28,551
NTS Map
GNBC Code
Website http://www.townofdigby.ns.ca
*Median household income, 2005 (all households)
Digby is a town in western Nova Scotia which lies on the Annapolis Basin of the Bay of Fundy. Digby is the shire town and commercial hub of Digby County. The town is famous for its scallop fishing fleet.
Contents [hide]
1 History
2 Economy
3 Tourism
4 Fishing
5 Transportation
6 Shopping and services
7 Demographics
8 Notable residents
9 Public library
10 References
11 External links
[edit] History
Digby, Nova Scotia in 1906.The area was settled in 1783 by the United Empire Loyalists under the leadership of Sir Robert Digby.
The town developed a sizable shipping fleet in the 19th century. One famous Digby vessel was the brigantine Dei Gratia, which discovered the famous mystery ship Mary Celeste in 1872. The town became an important regional transportation centre in the 1890s with the arrival of the Dominion Atlantic Railway. Trains connected with a series of steamships such as the City of Monticello and later the SS Princess Helene.
[edit] Economy
Digby’s economy is still based largely on the fishing and tourism industries. The annual Scallop Days Festival, held the first week of August annually, brings the two industries together to showcase the town’s history and heritage to the tourists. The festival offers a variety of themed activities for all ages, including scallop shucking contests, a parade, and an exhibition of local artists.[2]
Since 2004, Digby has become the destination for a major regional motorcycle rally, the annual Wharf Rat Rally. It attracts many times the town's population, up to 17,000 motorcyclists, so many that schools and some roads have to close for the day due to crowds and motorcycle traffic.[3] The Wharf Rat Rally event is generally held the week of Labour Day in September each year.
The area is also widely known for the enormous Bay of Fundy tides that sweep the coastline boasting some of the highest tides in the world. The town's history is preserved and interpeted by the Admiral Digby Museum, located in a historic home facing the harbour.
[edit] Tourism
Tourism has played an important role in Digby during the 20th century following the construction of a large resort on the town's outskirts named The Digby Pines. Built in 1905 and then purchased in 1917 by the Dominion Atlantic Railway, the resort provided a focal point to the local tourism industry. Continuously expanded, it was bought by the Government of Nova Scotia after the Dominion Atlantic sold its hotels.
There are many places to stay if you visit Digby, including[4]:
Accommodation Name Open Year Round
Admiral Digby Inn No
Breaker's Bed & Breakfast Yes
Bayside Inn Yes
Boardwalk Cafe & Suites Yes
Coastal Inn Kingfisher Yes
Digby Campground Yes
Digby Backpacker's Inn Yes
Dockside Suites Yes
Gallery Loft Housekeeping Unit Yes
Harmony B&B/Suites Yes
Montague Row B&B No
Nova's B&B Yes
Ocean Hillside Bed & Breakfast Yes
Shoreline Restaurant, Gifts & Accommodations No
Siesta Motel Yes
Summers Country Inn Yes
The Pines Resort No
Thistle Down Country Inn Yes
[edit] Fishing
Fishing has been an essential economic activity since the town's settlement. Digby's schooner fishery reached its peak in the early 1900s, documented by the famous Canadian historian and photographer Frederick William Wallace. In later years, trawlers, especially those harvesting scallops became the mainstay.
[edit] Transportation
Access to Digby is primarily by Highway 101 and by the M/V Princess of Acadia ferry service to Saint John, New Brunswick (operated by Bay Ferries Limited).
The Kings Transit public transit system has stops in Digby at the Atlantic Superstore/Walmart, Sobeys/Canadian Tire, and the Digby General Hospital, although the bus can be hailed to stop at any location along Hwy 303 between Atlantic Superstore and the hospital.[5] Buses going east or west bound are only available every other hour. The fare covers if you are traveling from Weymouth, Nova Scotia or to Windsor, Nova Scotia.
Kings Transit Fares[6]
Adults / Seniors (Age 60+) Children (5-11) Children (under 5)
$3.50 $1.75 FREE
There are three taxi companies that operate in Digby. They are Admiral Taxi, Basin Taxi, and Digby Cab. All three companies provide the same rates to riders.
[edit] Shopping and services
There are two groceries stores located in Digby, both Atlantic Superstore and Sobeys. There is also a Wal-mart and a Canadian Tire.
Restaurants include franchises such as two Tim Horton's locations, Subway, Pizza Delight, Kentucky Fried Chicken, and McDonald's along with several other locally owned restaurants filling the downtown Water Street area. Most of the locally owned restuarants serve seafood dishes with a high concentration on scallops. Many restaurants close during the winter months due to the slow tourism during that time.
Downtown also has locally owned shops.
Circle K, Ultramar, Shell, and Esso have gas stations located in Digby.
There is a Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) station located on Victoria Street.[7]
The Digby General Hospital, located on Warwick Street, provides basic medical care to the residents, including primary care, inpatient, restorative care, ambulatory, day surgery.[8] Although they note on the website they provide emergency care, it is only available when a physician is available. Many patients are redirected to the hospital in Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia or Yarmouth, Nova Scotia in the case of an emergency. [9]
[edit] Demographics
According to the Canada 2006 Census:[10]
Population: 2,092 (-0.9% from 2001)
Land area: 3.14 km2 (1.21 sq mi)
Population density: 667.0 inhabitants per square kilometre (1,728 /sq mi)
National population rank: Ranked 1,274th out of 5,008
Median age: 46.4 (males: 44.3, females: 48.9)
Total private dwellings: 1,070
Dwellings occupied by permanent residents: 966
Median household income: $28,551
Digby Main Street of Digby
Harbour of Digby
Balancing Rock near Digby
Tidal Boatworks, Digby. 2008.
Mist on Digby bay
[edit] Notable residents
Pop Smith, major league baseball player
[edit] Public library
Isaiah W. Wilson Memorial Library; Digby
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Nickname(s): "The Scallop Capital of The World"
DigbyLocation of Digby, Nova Scotia
Coordinates: 44°37′20″N 65°45′38″W / 44.62222°N 65.76056°W / 44.62222; -65.76056
Country Canada
Province Nova Scotia
County Digby County
Founded 1783
Incorporated February 28, 1890
Electoral Districts
Federal
West Nova
Provincial Digby-Annapolis
Government
- Type Town Council
- Mayor Ben Cleveland
- Governing Body Digby Town Council
Area
- Total 3.15 km2 (1.2 sq mi)
Elevation 0 - 152 m (-499 ft)
Population (2006)[1]
- Total 2,092
- Density 667.0/km2 (1,727.5/sq mi)
- Change (2001-06) ▼0.9%
- Dwellings 1,070
Time zone AST (UTC-4)
- Summer (DST) ADT (UTC-3)
Canadian Postal code B0V 1A0
Area code(s) 902
Telephone Exchange 245
Median Earnings* 28,551
NTS Map
GNBC Code
Website http://www.townofdigby.ns.ca
*Median household income, 2005 (all households)
Digby is a town in western Nova Scotia which lies on the Annapolis Basin of the Bay of Fundy. Digby is the shire town and commercial hub of Digby County. The town is famous for its scallop fishing fleet.
Contents [hide]
1 History
2 Economy
3 Tourism
4 Fishing
5 Transportation
6 Shopping and services
7 Demographics
8 Notable residents
9 Public library
10 References
11 External links
[edit] History
Digby, Nova Scotia in 1906.The area was settled in 1783 by the United Empire Loyalists under the leadership of Sir Robert Digby.
The town developed a sizable shipping fleet in the 19th century. One famous Digby vessel was the brigantine Dei Gratia, which discovered the famous mystery ship Mary Celeste in 1872. The town became an important regional transportation centre in the 1890s with the arrival of the Dominion Atlantic Railway. Trains connected with a series of steamships such as the City of Monticello and later the SS Princess Helene.
[edit] Economy
Digby’s economy is still based largely on the fishing and tourism industries. The annual Scallop Days Festival, held the first week of August annually, brings the two industries together to showcase the town’s history and heritage to the tourists. The festival offers a variety of themed activities for all ages, including scallop shucking contests, a parade, and an exhibition of local artists.[2]
Since 2004, Digby has become the destination for a major regional motorcycle rally, the annual Wharf Rat Rally. It attracts many times the town's population, up to 17,000 motorcyclists, so many that schools and some roads have to close for the day due to crowds and motorcycle traffic.[3] The Wharf Rat Rally event is generally held the week of Labour Day in September each year.
The area is also widely known for the enormous Bay of Fundy tides that sweep the coastline boasting some of the highest tides in the world. The town's history is preserved and interpeted by the Admiral Digby Museum, located in a historic home facing the harbour.
[edit] Tourism
Tourism has played an important role in Digby during the 20th century following the construction of a large resort on the town's outskirts named The Digby Pines. Built in 1905 and then purchased in 1917 by the Dominion Atlantic Railway, the resort provided a focal point to the local tourism industry. Continuously expanded, it was bought by the Government of Nova Scotia after the Dominion Atlantic sold its hotels.
There are many places to stay if you visit Digby, including[4]:
Accommodation Name Open Year Round
Admiral Digby Inn No
Breaker's Bed & Breakfast Yes
Bayside Inn Yes
Boardwalk Cafe & Suites Yes
Coastal Inn Kingfisher Yes
Digby Campground Yes
Digby Backpacker's Inn Yes
Dockside Suites Yes
Gallery Loft Housekeeping Unit Yes
Harmony B&B/Suites Yes
Montague Row B&B No
Nova's B&B Yes
Ocean Hillside Bed & Breakfast Yes
Shoreline Restaurant, Gifts & Accommodations No
Siesta Motel Yes
Summers Country Inn Yes
The Pines Resort No
Thistle Down Country Inn Yes
[edit] Fishing
Fishing has been an essential economic activity since the town's settlement. Digby's schooner fishery reached its peak in the early 1900s, documented by the famous Canadian historian and photographer Frederick William Wallace. In later years, trawlers, especially those harvesting scallops became the mainstay.
[edit] Transportation
Access to Digby is primarily by Highway 101 and by the M/V Princess of Acadia ferry service to Saint John, New Brunswick (operated by Bay Ferries Limited).
The Kings Transit public transit system has stops in Digby at the Atlantic Superstore/Walmart, Sobeys/Canadian Tire, and the Digby General Hospital, although the bus can be hailed to stop at any location along Hwy 303 between Atlantic Superstore and the hospital.[5] Buses going east or west bound are only available every other hour. The fare covers if you are traveling from Weymouth, Nova Scotia or to Windsor, Nova Scotia.
Kings Transit Fares[6]
Adults / Seniors (Age 60+) Children (5-11) Children (under 5)
$3.50 $1.75 FREE
There are three taxi companies that operate in Digby. They are Admiral Taxi, Basin Taxi, and Digby Cab. All three companies provide the same rates to riders.
[edit] Shopping and services
There are two groceries stores located in Digby, both Atlantic Superstore and Sobeys. There is also a Wal-mart and a Canadian Tire.
Restaurants include franchises such as two Tim Horton's locations, Subway, Pizza Delight, Kentucky Fried Chicken, and McDonald's along with several other locally owned restaurants filling the downtown Water Street area. Most of the locally owned restuarants serve seafood dishes with a high concentration on scallops. Many restaurants close during the winter months due to the slow tourism during that time.
Downtown also has locally owned shops.
Circle K, Ultramar, Shell, and Esso have gas stations located in Digby.
There is a Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) station located on Victoria Street.[7]
The Digby General Hospital, located on Warwick Street, provides basic medical care to the residents, including primary care, inpatient, restorative care, ambulatory, day surgery.[8] Although they note on the website they provide emergency care, it is only available when a physician is available. Many patients are redirected to the hospital in Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia or Yarmouth, Nova Scotia in the case of an emergency. [9]
[edit] Demographics
According to the Canada 2006 Census:[10]
Population: 2,092 (-0.9% from 2001)
Land area: 3.14 km2 (1.21 sq mi)
Population density: 667.0 inhabitants per square kilometre (1,728 /sq mi)
National population rank: Ranked 1,274th out of 5,008
Median age: 46.4 (males: 44.3, females: 48.9)
Total private dwellings: 1,070
Dwellings occupied by permanent residents: 966
Median household income: $28,551
Digby Main Street of Digby
Harbour of Digby
Balancing Rock near Digby
Tidal Boatworks, Digby. 2008.
Mist on Digby bay
[edit] Notable residents
Pop Smith, major league baseball player
[edit] Public library
Isaiah W. Wilson Memorial Library; Digby
Labels:
Digby Nova Scotia
Bay Windfields
President's Report
It has been a very positive experience serving as President of Bay Wind since November of 2007 and I am delighted to be presenting the 2009 Bay Windfield president's report. After this AGM, I will be stepping down from my role as President but expect to continue assisting the company as a Director on the board.
Looking back at the past year, financially speaking, it has been very 'interesting' to say the least. Unless you had your money in a GIC, pretty much all public investment vehicles decreased in value. Fortunately for us, Bay Wind, being a CEDIFand not publicly traded, avoided the downturn in financial markets and maintained its value. Also, fortunately for shareholders of Bay Wind, all our current investments are with companies who are not publicly traded. This is fortunate because there were very few public companies that did not reduced in value over the past year.
During these interesting economic times Bay Wind has managed to keep busy. I will start this report by listing our events of the past year followed by updates on our past investments:
On February 29th 2008 the Bay closed its 5th successful offering. This offering increased our number of shareholders to over 160.
In August of 2008, the Bay made a strategic investment in The Gold Coast . We purchased 51% of the company which also provides us with excellent investment potential for future projects due to the geographic location of their territory. For those unaware, they have the rights between Hfx and Canso.
Also in August 2008, The Bay signed an agreement with a local company which produces wood bricks from waste wood. These bricks are used as an alternative to firewood for heating purposes. This agreement is in the form of an interest bearing loan to the company which provides the Bay with a revenue stream in the form of monthly interest cheques.
In September of 2008, the Bay completed a 10 for 1 stock split. This split was deemed necessary to prevent further dilution of existing shareholder's investments. This factor was determined according to the current market values of investments held by the Bay.
As far as updates on the companies we have previously invested in, two have provided information and the third, being 4G (Fourth Generation Capital) has not supplied any recent information. As far as we have been told, 4G is active in China and has imported Chinese technology to Ontario as it relates to a Biomass power generating plant. We cannot quantify this information but hope that 4G becomes very successful.
RESL (RENEWABLE ENERGY SERVICES LTD)
RESL recently held their AGM in Halifax earlier this month. There were 7 shareholders in attendance, this including representation from The Bay. RESL currently have 5 turbines operating. They have sold the following in the last year:
Project with Shear Wind. The two turbines that were part of a joint agreement with Shear Wind were sold to them. They stated it was for operational reasons.
T600 Turbines. They have sold two T600 turbines to Boston and helped to install the product. The turbines were small and were the only ones that they could use at that location that were available at that time.
The installation of the turbine at the Generating Plant at Point Tupper. was not feasible due to unsuitable ground conditions, though the project was cancelled the turbine was relocated to the near-by Wind Farm. Currently RESL has a 25Mw RFP from NS Power and they are concentrating on the Point Tupper wind farm.
Alberta. RESL and AESO (Alberta Electric System Operator) are still carrying out environmental assessments of 2 projects. They currently have 170 Mw under development, but we do not have any additional details on these developments.
RESL is looking for significant investors and are apparently in talks with one or more entities but would not provide any additional details. They are also interested in investment and the Equity Tax Credit is still available for individuals who invest from Nova Scotia.
At this point the company made no reference to going public in the near future.
Scotian WindFields Inc (SWFI)
SWFI now has one "inside the fence" up and running. This is at the Porter's Lake Superstore. It is expected that another one should be announced soon.
In June Scotian WindFields launched Carbon Services Division.
In 2008, Scotian WindFields bought Doctor Solar to help expand into the solar energy industry. Doctor Solar has more than 20 years of experience installing solar thermal systems in Nova Scotia, and was a perfect fit to the community based Scotian WindFields team.
SWIFI considered a merger earlier in the year which promised to bring more financial resources to the Digby Neck project. The merger did not take place but talks are ongoing.
As with RESL, financing is proving to be more difficult in these hard economic times for everyone.
Services SWFI currently provide include:
Utility Wind: bidding on grid scale development in the 30 to 40 MW range as suppliers to Nova Scotia Power Inc.
Embedded Generation: developing 'inside the fence' projects to service commercial retailers, industrial applications, and institutional facilities.
Small Wind: providing turnkey packages to homeowners and small businesses with alternative energy solutions, as well as the tools to reduce their carbon footprint.
Solar: working with clients to provide turnkey solar solutions in hot water heating and photovoltaic applications.
In conclusion, The Bay has been busy looking out for the best interests of our shareholders. We aspire to continue investing in select projects whereby we expect to generate future financial gain to our shareholders while making the environment a more sustainable and energy efficient place. Thank you very much. Alain Belliveau President - The Bay WindField
It has been a very positive experience serving as President of Bay Wind since November of 2007 and I am delighted to be presenting the 2009 Bay Windfield president's report. After this AGM, I will be stepping down from my role as President but expect to continue assisting the company as a Director on the board.
Looking back at the past year, financially speaking, it has been very 'interesting' to say the least. Unless you had your money in a GIC, pretty much all public investment vehicles decreased in value. Fortunately for us, Bay Wind, being a CEDIFand not publicly traded, avoided the downturn in financial markets and maintained its value. Also, fortunately for shareholders of Bay Wind, all our current investments are with companies who are not publicly traded. This is fortunate because there were very few public companies that did not reduced in value over the past year.
During these interesting economic times Bay Wind has managed to keep busy. I will start this report by listing our events of the past year followed by updates on our past investments:
On February 29th 2008 the Bay closed its 5th successful offering. This offering increased our number of shareholders to over 160.
In August of 2008, the Bay made a strategic investment in The Gold Coast . We purchased 51% of the company which also provides us with excellent investment potential for future projects due to the geographic location of their territory. For those unaware, they have the rights between Hfx and Canso.
Also in August 2008, The Bay signed an agreement with a local company which produces wood bricks from waste wood. These bricks are used as an alternative to firewood for heating purposes. This agreement is in the form of an interest bearing loan to the company which provides the Bay with a revenue stream in the form of monthly interest cheques.
In September of 2008, the Bay completed a 10 for 1 stock split. This split was deemed necessary to prevent further dilution of existing shareholder's investments. This factor was determined according to the current market values of investments held by the Bay.
As far as updates on the companies we have previously invested in, two have provided information and the third, being 4G (Fourth Generation Capital) has not supplied any recent information. As far as we have been told, 4G is active in China and has imported Chinese technology to Ontario as it relates to a Biomass power generating plant. We cannot quantify this information but hope that 4G becomes very successful.
RESL (RENEWABLE ENERGY SERVICES LTD)
RESL recently held their AGM in Halifax earlier this month. There were 7 shareholders in attendance, this including representation from The Bay. RESL currently have 5 turbines operating. They have sold the following in the last year:
Project with Shear Wind. The two turbines that were part of a joint agreement with Shear Wind were sold to them. They stated it was for operational reasons.
T600 Turbines. They have sold two T600 turbines to Boston and helped to install the product. The turbines were small and were the only ones that they could use at that location that were available at that time.
The installation of the turbine at the Generating Plant at Point Tupper. was not feasible due to unsuitable ground conditions, though the project was cancelled the turbine was relocated to the near-by Wind Farm. Currently RESL has a 25Mw RFP from NS Power and they are concentrating on the Point Tupper wind farm.
Alberta. RESL and AESO (Alberta Electric System Operator) are still carrying out environmental assessments of 2 projects. They currently have 170 Mw under development, but we do not have any additional details on these developments.
RESL is looking for significant investors and are apparently in talks with one or more entities but would not provide any additional details. They are also interested in investment and the Equity Tax Credit is still available for individuals who invest from Nova Scotia.
At this point the company made no reference to going public in the near future.
Scotian WindFields Inc (SWFI)
SWFI now has one "inside the fence" up and running. This is at the Porter's Lake Superstore. It is expected that another one should be announced soon.
In June Scotian WindFields launched Carbon Services Division.
In 2008, Scotian WindFields bought Doctor Solar to help expand into the solar energy industry. Doctor Solar has more than 20 years of experience installing solar thermal systems in Nova Scotia, and was a perfect fit to the community based Scotian WindFields team.
SWIFI considered a merger earlier in the year which promised to bring more financial resources to the Digby Neck project. The merger did not take place but talks are ongoing.
As with RESL, financing is proving to be more difficult in these hard economic times for everyone.
Services SWFI currently provide include:
Utility Wind: bidding on grid scale development in the 30 to 40 MW range as suppliers to Nova Scotia Power Inc.
Embedded Generation: developing 'inside the fence' projects to service commercial retailers, industrial applications, and institutional facilities.
Small Wind: providing turnkey packages to homeowners and small businesses with alternative energy solutions, as well as the tools to reduce their carbon footprint.
Solar: working with clients to provide turnkey solar solutions in hot water heating and photovoltaic applications.
In conclusion, The Bay has been busy looking out for the best interests of our shareholders. We aspire to continue investing in select projects whereby we expect to generate future financial gain to our shareholders while making the environment a more sustainable and energy efficient place. Thank you very much. Alain Belliveau President - The Bay WindField
Labels:
Nova Scotia wind turbines
World Photovoltaics Conference and Expo
From seopressreleases
Nashua, NH, December 29, 2009 — The conference program for the Photovoltaics World Conference & Expo, to be held February 23-25, 2010 in Austin, Texas, has been finalized. Recent advances in photovoltaics technology and manufacturing processes will be addressed, as well as emerging applications for photovoltaic-based solar power generation systems. Information will be presented in two different tracks and seven sessions over a three-day program. The conference will be held in conjunction with PennWell’s Renewable Energy World Conference & Expo North America, which covers all forms of renewable energy, including the wind, solar, biomass, hydro, geothermal, ocean/tidal/wave, bio-power, bio-fuels hydrogen and energy sectors. Nearly 4,000 renewable energy power professionals attended the 2009 conference, and strong growth in 2010 is expected.
“I’m delighted that we are able to present such a strong conference program on photovoltaics that covers not only new manufacturing technologies, but strategic market and policy concerns,” said Pete Singer, Editor-in-Chief of Photovoltaics World and program committee chair. Photovoltaics World, launched in 2009, is the newest member of PennWell’s Electronics Media Group and the Renewable Energy World Network. Through its magazine, website and e-newsletters, Photovoltaics World covers photovoltaics manufacturing and solar power generation.
Opportunities in the photovoltaics (PV) market in 2010 remain strong according to analysts. “Utilities and home-owners are increasingly interested in PV systems and large utility ecosystem partners, such as construction and merchant power generation firms, are looking into photovoltaics,” said Alfonso Velosa, Research Director, Semiconductors, Gartner, Tucson, AZ. Dave Cavanaugh, Senior Analyst, Pike Research, Boulder, CO, is also positive: “Led by a strong recovery of demand in Germany and burgeoning growth in Italy, Japan and the United States, we are forecasting that demand for solar modules in 2010 will grow by 43% to reach almost 6.8GW. This offers great news to a solar industry whose market demand as little as two quarters ago was looking dismal.”
Still, there is some degree of uncertainty about how the PV market will be impacted by the stability of the global economy, the fate of government incentives, feed-in-tariff (FIT) restructuring, and overall sliding module prices. Another uncertainty is which of the many different types of competing photovoltaic technologies will emerge as the winner. Conventional crystalline silicon PV technology remains the market leader, but thin-film technologies are rapidly improving and are poised to gain in market share, particularly in the U.S. Organic photovoltaics (PV on plastic substrates) have also shown dramatic improvements of late, and are an ideal choice for some applications.
These and other critical issues will be addressed at the Photovoltaics World Conference. Conference sessions include:
New Frontiers in Photovoltaics Manufacturing: A variety of competing technologies are now being investigated or deployed for photovoltaics/solar cell manufacturing. This session looks at some of the recent advances in these technologies, ranging from simple silicon, to III-V and IV materials. Challenges of photovoltaic cell reliability will be addressed, including that of thin films, crystalline silicon and concentrator PV technologies. New developments in holographic solar concentrators will also be presented, as will new developments in integrated photovoltaic combined thermal systems.
Advances in Photovoltaic Materials: The range of candidate biomass feedstocks (e.g. algae) which have the attributes for success is expanding and many of these will be compared and contrasted. Recent, high-impact innovations that enable the use of these feedstocks will be presented.
PV Manufacturing Process Technologies: Photovoltaics manufacturing technology has moved into high volume, with throughput reaching 3000 substrates per hour or more. Development of new processes continues, however, in order to obtain higher cell efficiency, higher tool throughput and reduced cost-of-ownership. This session will examine a variety of new process techniques, including surface texturing, atmospheric surface modification, bulk analysis of trace impurities and dopants, and fluorinated elastomer seals.
Photovoltaics - The Quest for Grid Parity Track: One of the main drivers in photovoltaic solar cell technology is the goal of reducing the cost of the power generated to be equivalent to or less than that provided by conventional technologies. This so-called grid parity is usually considered to be about $1/Watt at peak times. This session will take a broad look at what can impact the cost of PV.
Photovoltaics in Practice: Photovoltaic systems have been in use for more than 20 years but are now being implemented in a wide variety of configurations, from building-integrated PV to solar farms and rooftop installations on homes and businesses. This session will look at PV’s role in LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) efforts, provide an engineering and financial analysis of installing a solar power system on a residential house, a sizing method for security PV systems, a report on the new Net Zero neighborhoods plans, and recent progress in PV sun tracking systems.
Panel Discussion on DC-DC Optimization: This panel session will consist of representatives of two manufacturers of optimizer products, a non-panel manufacturing integrator/operator, and a major panel manufacturer. Likely discussion topics include: the technology itself; the factors behind the proposed economic feasibility of the technology; likely context of use and scale; and factors concerning the eventual marriage of the technology with other components, most notably the panels.
Solar-oriented solar sessions are also scheduled as part of the general Renewable Energy World Conference & Expo North America, including PV case studies and applications, solar energy market trends and CSP near-term solutions.
More details on the conference, including speakers, registration information, keynote talks, technical tours, networking breakfasts, and conference hours, can be found at http://www.pvworldevent.com.
About Photovoltaics World
Photovoltaics World, the newest member of PennWell’s Electronics Media Group, covers photovoltaics manufacturing and solar power generation. Our coverage focuses on solar cell design and manufacture, including cells made of multi-, mono- and nano-crystalline silicon, amorphous thin-film silicon, cadmium telluride, copper indium diselenide (CIS), copper indium gallium diselenide (CIGS) and GaAs. Multijunction cells and concentrator technology are also covered.
About PennWell Corporation
PennWell Corporation is a diversified business-to-business media and information company that provides quality content and integrated marketing solutions for the following global industries: oil and gas, electric power, water, electronics, semiconductor, contamination control, optoelectronics, fiber optics, information technology, fire, emergency services and dental. Founded in 1910, PennWell publishes 75 print and online magazines and newsletters and conducts 60 conferences and exhibitions on six continents. In addition to PennWell’s headquarters in Tulsa, Oklahoma, the Company has major offices in Nashua, New Hampshire; Houston, Texas; London, England; Mountain View, California; Fairlawn, New Jersey; Moscow, Russia; and Hong Kong, China. (http://www.pennwell.com)
Nashua, NH, December 29, 2009 — The conference program for the Photovoltaics World Conference & Expo, to be held February 23-25, 2010 in Austin, Texas, has been finalized. Recent advances in photovoltaics technology and manufacturing processes will be addressed, as well as emerging applications for photovoltaic-based solar power generation systems. Information will be presented in two different tracks and seven sessions over a three-day program. The conference will be held in conjunction with PennWell’s Renewable Energy World Conference & Expo North America, which covers all forms of renewable energy, including the wind, solar, biomass, hydro, geothermal, ocean/tidal/wave, bio-power, bio-fuels hydrogen and energy sectors. Nearly 4,000 renewable energy power professionals attended the 2009 conference, and strong growth in 2010 is expected.
“I’m delighted that we are able to present such a strong conference program on photovoltaics that covers not only new manufacturing technologies, but strategic market and policy concerns,” said Pete Singer, Editor-in-Chief of Photovoltaics World and program committee chair. Photovoltaics World, launched in 2009, is the newest member of PennWell’s Electronics Media Group and the Renewable Energy World Network. Through its magazine, website and e-newsletters, Photovoltaics World covers photovoltaics manufacturing and solar power generation.
Opportunities in the photovoltaics (PV) market in 2010 remain strong according to analysts. “Utilities and home-owners are increasingly interested in PV systems and large utility ecosystem partners, such as construction and merchant power generation firms, are looking into photovoltaics,” said Alfonso Velosa, Research Director, Semiconductors, Gartner, Tucson, AZ. Dave Cavanaugh, Senior Analyst, Pike Research, Boulder, CO, is also positive: “Led by a strong recovery of demand in Germany and burgeoning growth in Italy, Japan and the United States, we are forecasting that demand for solar modules in 2010 will grow by 43% to reach almost 6.8GW. This offers great news to a solar industry whose market demand as little as two quarters ago was looking dismal.”
Still, there is some degree of uncertainty about how the PV market will be impacted by the stability of the global economy, the fate of government incentives, feed-in-tariff (FIT) restructuring, and overall sliding module prices. Another uncertainty is which of the many different types of competing photovoltaic technologies will emerge as the winner. Conventional crystalline silicon PV technology remains the market leader, but thin-film technologies are rapidly improving and are poised to gain in market share, particularly in the U.S. Organic photovoltaics (PV on plastic substrates) have also shown dramatic improvements of late, and are an ideal choice for some applications.
These and other critical issues will be addressed at the Photovoltaics World Conference. Conference sessions include:
New Frontiers in Photovoltaics Manufacturing: A variety of competing technologies are now being investigated or deployed for photovoltaics/solar cell manufacturing. This session looks at some of the recent advances in these technologies, ranging from simple silicon, to III-V and IV materials. Challenges of photovoltaic cell reliability will be addressed, including that of thin films, crystalline silicon and concentrator PV technologies. New developments in holographic solar concentrators will also be presented, as will new developments in integrated photovoltaic combined thermal systems.
Advances in Photovoltaic Materials: The range of candidate biomass feedstocks (e.g. algae) which have the attributes for success is expanding and many of these will be compared and contrasted. Recent, high-impact innovations that enable the use of these feedstocks will be presented.
PV Manufacturing Process Technologies: Photovoltaics manufacturing technology has moved into high volume, with throughput reaching 3000 substrates per hour or more. Development of new processes continues, however, in order to obtain higher cell efficiency, higher tool throughput and reduced cost-of-ownership. This session will examine a variety of new process techniques, including surface texturing, atmospheric surface modification, bulk analysis of trace impurities and dopants, and fluorinated elastomer seals.
Photovoltaics - The Quest for Grid Parity Track: One of the main drivers in photovoltaic solar cell technology is the goal of reducing the cost of the power generated to be equivalent to or less than that provided by conventional technologies. This so-called grid parity is usually considered to be about $1/Watt at peak times. This session will take a broad look at what can impact the cost of PV.
Photovoltaics in Practice: Photovoltaic systems have been in use for more than 20 years but are now being implemented in a wide variety of configurations, from building-integrated PV to solar farms and rooftop installations on homes and businesses. This session will look at PV’s role in LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) efforts, provide an engineering and financial analysis of installing a solar power system on a residential house, a sizing method for security PV systems, a report on the new Net Zero neighborhoods plans, and recent progress in PV sun tracking systems.
Panel Discussion on DC-DC Optimization: This panel session will consist of representatives of two manufacturers of optimizer products, a non-panel manufacturing integrator/operator, and a major panel manufacturer. Likely discussion topics include: the technology itself; the factors behind the proposed economic feasibility of the technology; likely context of use and scale; and factors concerning the eventual marriage of the technology with other components, most notably the panels.
Solar-oriented solar sessions are also scheduled as part of the general Renewable Energy World Conference & Expo North America, including PV case studies and applications, solar energy market trends and CSP near-term solutions.
More details on the conference, including speakers, registration information, keynote talks, technical tours, networking breakfasts, and conference hours, can be found at http://www.pvworldevent.com.
About Photovoltaics World
Photovoltaics World, the newest member of PennWell’s Electronics Media Group, covers photovoltaics manufacturing and solar power generation. Our coverage focuses on solar cell design and manufacture, including cells made of multi-, mono- and nano-crystalline silicon, amorphous thin-film silicon, cadmium telluride, copper indium diselenide (CIS), copper indium gallium diselenide (CIGS) and GaAs. Multijunction cells and concentrator technology are also covered.
About PennWell Corporation
PennWell Corporation is a diversified business-to-business media and information company that provides quality content and integrated marketing solutions for the following global industries: oil and gas, electric power, water, electronics, semiconductor, contamination control, optoelectronics, fiber optics, information technology, fire, emergency services and dental. Founded in 1910, PennWell publishes 75 print and online magazines and newsletters and conducts 60 conferences and exhibitions on six continents. In addition to PennWell’s headquarters in Tulsa, Oklahoma, the Company has major offices in Nashua, New Hampshire; Houston, Texas; London, England; Mountain View, California; Fairlawn, New Jersey; Moscow, Russia; and Hong Kong, China. (http://www.pennwell.com)
Biomass and Diversity
From the Chronicle Herald
By CHRISTOPHER MAJKA
T
HERE is a growing con-
troversy in Nova Scotia
with respect to forest
biomass harvesting such
as that being conducted by
Northern Pulp Nova Scotia
Corporation in the Upper Mus-
qudoboit area.
Environmental groups such
as the Ecology Action Centre
have voiced concerns about the
impacts and sustainability of
whole tree harvesting. David
Wheeler, dean of Dalhousie
University's faculty of manage-
ment and leader of the prov-
ince's biomass consultation
team, has encouraged the Nova
Scotia government to consider
the option, if conducted to the
highest possible environmental
standards. Wheeler says bio-
mass could generate 15 per cent
of the province's renewable
energy. Unaddressed and unan-
swered in this debate is how
such forest harvesting practices
affect the biodiversity of forests.
Natural forests are highly
diverse environments that sup-
port an immense number of
plants and animals that interact
with one another. A biodiverse
I,)
forest shelters many species
and is a resilient ecosystem as a
result of this diversity. It func-
tions efficiently as a photosyn-
thetic engine that absorbs car-
bon dioxide, releases oxygen,
and recycles many essential
nutrients through the soil.
This fall, I completed a study
for the Nova Scotia Species at
Risk Conservation Fund in-
vestigating the saproxylic bee-
tles of Nova Scotia. "Saproxyl-
ic" refers to forest animals
responsible for the decomposi-
tion of wood. This research
revealed an astonishing diversi-
ty of such beetles - some 786
species, a third of all the beetles
found in the province. This does
not include foliage-feeding
species, ground beetles, or those
that feed on carrion.
Of the 786 species found, 269
(34 per cent) were placed in the
most vulnerable "may be at
risk" category. This ranking
reflected their limited distribu-
tion within the province, and
hence potential vulnerability to
disturbance. Furthermore,
studies offorest beetles, con-
ducted over the past decade by
myself and several colleagues,
have shown that 33 per cent of
saproxylic beetles are also ap-
parently very rare.
One reason for such apparent
scarcity may be the long history
offorest management practices
in the region. These have em-
phasized short-rotation, mono-
culture plantations, clearcut-
ting, the use of insecticides, and
the virtual elimination of old-
growth forests. Although 73 per
cent of Nova Scotia's land base
is forested,less than 0.6 per cent
of that is composed of old-
growth forests.
Saproxylic beetles live in and
depend on the full spectrum of
forest microhabitats. Some
inhabit rotten wood, old
stumps, fallen branches and
mossy logs. Others are found in
decaying boles of old trees, at
sap flows or in bark. Some are
cambium feeders, eating the
inner bark offallen logs,
branches or dying trees; others
feed on the wood itself.
Ambrosia beetles excavate
galleries under the bark which
they then inoculate with fungal
spores, feeding on the mildews
that subsequently grow. Bracket
fungi, which grow on decaying
wood, are the food source and
home to a large diversity of
beetles. These beetles are, in
turn, fed upon by many forest
denizens such as woodpeckers.
These diverse natural micro-
habitats supply the conditions
and environment that allow
such beetles to thrive. An area
completely denuded of dead
wood for biomass harvesting, or
where only wood chips or shav-
ings cover the soil, is very dif-
ferent. It is not suitable for the
vast majority of saproxylic
beetles to survive in. The re-
moval of all dead wood, logs,
stumps and branches dramat-
ically alters the habitat. Such
concerns apply to both clear-
cutting and biomass harvesting.
Recent research on the West
Coast has shown it can take 100
years for the woody debris in a
forest to stabilize after a clear-
cut, and that fungi, which many
saproxylic beetles depend on,
declines up to 97 per cent in
clearcut areas.
Other concerns aside, if we
wish to protect the biodiversity
offorests in Nova Scotia, and
ensure that they function as
vibrant ecological environ-
ments, we need to cultivate
forest management practices
that are much more selective in
their impact, and preserve fea-
tures of the natural environ-
ment. Old stands need to be
spared,large clearcuts should
be avoided, corridors or clumps
of trees should remain where
forest species can survive and
disperse from, and dead wood -
not chips or shavings - needs
to be left on the ground.
My research on the forest
beetles of Nova Scotia indicates
there are reasons to be appre-
hensive about the consequences
of clearcutting and biomass
harvesting, particularly since
many beetles in the province
appear to be clinging precari-
ously to their existence. A 2004
study issued by the World Wild-
life Fund, called Deadwood -
Living Forests, noted that
"standing dead or dying trees,
fallen logs, and branches form
one of the most important - yet
often unrecognized - habitats
for biodiversity." In Nova Sco-
tia, we need to heed this lesson,
and not only let the tree fall in
the forest, but let it stay.
Christopher Majka is a biologist who
conducts research on the ecology and
biodiversity of beetles in Atlantic
Canada.
r
By CHRISTOPHER MAJKA
T
HERE is a growing con-
troversy in Nova Scotia
with respect to forest
biomass harvesting such
as that being conducted by
Northern Pulp Nova Scotia
Corporation in the Upper Mus-
qudoboit area.
Environmental groups such
as the Ecology Action Centre
have voiced concerns about the
impacts and sustainability of
whole tree harvesting. David
Wheeler, dean of Dalhousie
University's faculty of manage-
ment and leader of the prov-
ince's biomass consultation
team, has encouraged the Nova
Scotia government to consider
the option, if conducted to the
highest possible environmental
standards. Wheeler says bio-
mass could generate 15 per cent
of the province's renewable
energy. Unaddressed and unan-
swered in this debate is how
such forest harvesting practices
affect the biodiversity of forests.
Natural forests are highly
diverse environments that sup-
port an immense number of
plants and animals that interact
with one another. A biodiverse
I,)
forest shelters many species
and is a resilient ecosystem as a
result of this diversity. It func-
tions efficiently as a photosyn-
thetic engine that absorbs car-
bon dioxide, releases oxygen,
and recycles many essential
nutrients through the soil.
This fall, I completed a study
for the Nova Scotia Species at
Risk Conservation Fund in-
vestigating the saproxylic bee-
tles of Nova Scotia. "Saproxyl-
ic" refers to forest animals
responsible for the decomposi-
tion of wood. This research
revealed an astonishing diversi-
ty of such beetles - some 786
species, a third of all the beetles
found in the province. This does
not include foliage-feeding
species, ground beetles, or those
that feed on carrion.
Of the 786 species found, 269
(34 per cent) were placed in the
most vulnerable "may be at
risk" category. This ranking
reflected their limited distribu-
tion within the province, and
hence potential vulnerability to
disturbance. Furthermore,
studies offorest beetles, con-
ducted over the past decade by
myself and several colleagues,
have shown that 33 per cent of
saproxylic beetles are also ap-
parently very rare.
One reason for such apparent
scarcity may be the long history
offorest management practices
in the region. These have em-
phasized short-rotation, mono-
culture plantations, clearcut-
ting, the use of insecticides, and
the virtual elimination of old-
growth forests. Although 73 per
cent of Nova Scotia's land base
is forested,less than 0.6 per cent
of that is composed of old-
growth forests.
Saproxylic beetles live in and
depend on the full spectrum of
forest microhabitats. Some
inhabit rotten wood, old
stumps, fallen branches and
mossy logs. Others are found in
decaying boles of old trees, at
sap flows or in bark. Some are
cambium feeders, eating the
inner bark offallen logs,
branches or dying trees; others
feed on the wood itself.
Ambrosia beetles excavate
galleries under the bark which
they then inoculate with fungal
spores, feeding on the mildews
that subsequently grow. Bracket
fungi, which grow on decaying
wood, are the food source and
home to a large diversity of
beetles. These beetles are, in
turn, fed upon by many forest
denizens such as woodpeckers.
These diverse natural micro-
habitats supply the conditions
and environment that allow
such beetles to thrive. An area
completely denuded of dead
wood for biomass harvesting, or
where only wood chips or shav-
ings cover the soil, is very dif-
ferent. It is not suitable for the
vast majority of saproxylic
beetles to survive in. The re-
moval of all dead wood, logs,
stumps and branches dramat-
ically alters the habitat. Such
concerns apply to both clear-
cutting and biomass harvesting.
Recent research on the West
Coast has shown it can take 100
years for the woody debris in a
forest to stabilize after a clear-
cut, and that fungi, which many
saproxylic beetles depend on,
declines up to 97 per cent in
clearcut areas.
Other concerns aside, if we
wish to protect the biodiversity
offorests in Nova Scotia, and
ensure that they function as
vibrant ecological environ-
ments, we need to cultivate
forest management practices
that are much more selective in
their impact, and preserve fea-
tures of the natural environ-
ment. Old stands need to be
spared,large clearcuts should
be avoided, corridors or clumps
of trees should remain where
forest species can survive and
disperse from, and dead wood -
not chips or shavings - needs
to be left on the ground.
My research on the forest
beetles of Nova Scotia indicates
there are reasons to be appre-
hensive about the consequences
of clearcutting and biomass
harvesting, particularly since
many beetles in the province
appear to be clinging precari-
ously to their existence. A 2004
study issued by the World Wild-
life Fund, called Deadwood -
Living Forests, noted that
"standing dead or dying trees,
fallen logs, and branches form
one of the most important - yet
often unrecognized - habitats
for biodiversity." In Nova Sco-
tia, we need to heed this lesson,
and not only let the tree fall in
the forest, but let it stay.
Christopher Majka is a biologist who
conducts research on the ecology and
biodiversity of beetles in Atlantic
Canada.
r
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